The new sculpture of an ironstone miner by J. Godbold of Egton (who seems to be getting a lot of work in the ironstone area at the moment) was unveiled by Mr G Clark of Boulby Potash on 21st July 2010.
It is set back a few feet from the old marker for the Boosbeck Shaft
During the great depression between 1929 and 1933 many of the Cleveland ironstone mines closed which lead to unemployment rates of up to 91%. Major James Pennyman the owner of Ormesby Hall bought land near the mining communities of Margrove Park, Boosbeck and Lingdale. This land was cultivated as a work camp to provide alternative employment for the miners and their families.
The list of people involved in the scheme is astonishing.
Sir Michael Tippet was involved in staging the Beggars Opera and his own work Robin Hood at Boosbeck church hall. Boosbeck Industies was also formed which manufactured furniture for about four years.
Local legend has it that William Joyce who became better known as Lord Haw Haw was present at the sixth work camp in April 1935.
Theres a very interesting book on the subject by Malcolm Chase and Mark Whyman
This sculpture of the hospital with a nurse and miner was unveiled in June 2010
It was made by blacksmiths James Godbold of Egton for the Eston Residents Association, it is located on the site of hospital which closed in 1980 and has since been demolished.
Update 17/8/2010 - Hardly two months gone and the sculpture has been already been vandalised
Cliffe was a small ironstone mine worked from 1866 to 1887. Virtually nothing remains on the site except depressions and discolorations in a field which mark the locations of the shafts.
A railway siding which runs to the shafts and parallel to the current live railway can be identified.
Some remains of the base on which a Fowler traction engine was mounted exist, but I was unable to locate them in the long summer grass.
Anyone who has read the “Cleveland Mining Incidents” series of books will know the injuries sustained underground could be horrific.
Bulmers directory of 1890 list the following staff
Miners’ Hospital - Messrs. Merryweather & Dunn, medical officers
Kellys directory of 1909 lists the following staff
Skelton Cottage Miners Hospital - John Thorner. LRCP Edin, Surgeon.
Skelton Cottage Miners Hospital - Frederick P Wigfield MB, Surgeon.
Skelton Cottage Miners Hospital - Miss Clara Baldwin, Matron.
The hospital built in 1883 is now a private residence.
Apart from the very obvious Guibal Fanhouse closer investigation of the site reveals some more details.
Running due east from the fanhouse is a culvert with a metal pipe inside, it runs for nearly 200 feet and remains of a building can be seen on the surface where it ends.
Further east again in the undergrowth appears to be the base of a chimney (or the base of a privvy depending on your personal interpretation)
Slightly to the north of that a stone engine base can also be found hidden in the undergrowth.
In the stream are the footings for a rail bridge which connected Waterfall Ironstone mine to the branch for Skelton Park and Skelton Shaft mines.
A number of rails presumably originally from the bridge appear to have been reused to strengthen the bank on the right.
The Farnsdale mines operated between 1873 and 1897 under the Blakey Iron Company and later the Farndale Iron Company.
An incline can be followed down to the location from the railway line up at Blakey Junction.
At the bottom of the incline, a tramway ran along the hillside at the level of the ironstone
Most of the remains are obscured by subsequent rock falls, but one small drift is still visible.
At this point the railway link to the Rosedale mines passed under the road.
A cutting can be seen approching the now blocked bridge, with a junction in the left of the photo leading off to the Blakey / Farndale mines.
A row of cottages were also present at this junction but have since been demolished.
The Slapewath mine was originally started by Thomas Charlton in 1864 via a drift near the village names after him. The shafts date from a later period of around 1880 when the mine was being operated by Samuelson & Co.
The downcast shaft now surrounded by a high wall is 286 feet deep
The upcast / ventilation shaft is located a little to the NW and is of similar depth.
A sizeable heap of spoil is still on the site, which has been cut by a farm track
Theres another opportunity to explore the ironstone remains in Errington Woods with local expert Simon Chapman.
In what it now a car park are the remains of Grosmont Ironworks built in 1862 and demolished in 1892. Despite now being a rural setting the immediate area contains numerous ironstone mines.
The most promenant feature is a large brick structure which is believed to be part of the system which carried raw materials to the top of the three blast furnaces. Apologies for the dark photos but it was getting late and I only had a basic camera.
Closer to the railway station is the base of the third blast furnace, added in 1876
Loftus Ironstone mine operated from 1865 until 1958 (although some earlier working was done by several companies back to 1847 in the immedite area)
The name of the town and mine are said to have been altered to avoid confusion with Lofthouse near Wakefield when the railways arrived.
The pit for the Waddle ventilation fan is still very prominant on the site
The Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum (formerly the Tom Leonard Mining Museum) which occupies the site is currently closed for the winter, so I shall have to return for internal shots next year, however a few items can be seen outside even when its closed.
1882 datestone from the engine house of Lumpsey Mine
1914 datestones from the fan house at South Skelton Mine
The mine stables are currently being converted, a drift ran underground from the stables directly into the mine
‘Mare et Ferro’ - Sea and Iron, granted 10th October 1922 (Coatham Enclosure was built in the 1930s)
The heavily eroded parts at the top are iron ingots and a blast furnace, they can be seen better in this printed version
With the nights closing in, I’m having to trawl my old photos for new material.
On the Rosedale Railway, at the head of the incline down towards the Farndale mines are the remains of a hand powered windlass.
Many other scraps of railway embankments and cuttings lie in the immediate area.
The actual mine site lies to the west within a scrapyard, this circular structure houses a 60ft shaft which was used to pump water out of the mine.
It was also said to have housed a wooden staircase to allow access to underground stables.
The two capped shafts at Liverton are unusually close together.
The smaller diameter upcast shaft plaque reads :-
Mine Shaft
Depth 143m
Dia 3.75m
Capped 7-4-90
The larger downcast shaft reads
Mine Shaft
Depth 143m
Dia 4.53m
Capped 8-5-90
The rest of the area including the shale tips has been heavily landscaped with a couple of nearby buildings being the only clue to the once industrial site.
North Skelton mine hold a number of records. It was the last ironstone mine in Cleveland to close, having operated from the early 1870s until the 17th January 1964. It was the deepest mine in Cleveland with a 770ft shaft. It was the last in Cleveland to use a regularly use a steam winder, right up until 1951 (although Lingdale did keep one in working order as a backup until closure in 1962)
Little remains today as the site is within the current premises of Tees Components who very kindly allowed our small group to photograph the remaining buildings.
The winding house with its 1871 date stone and small door in the wall for winding ropes is the most substantial original structure.
Other original buildings remain, although they have been modified for other uses.
Outside the site is a small headframe, although the real thing was very different as can be seen against the winding house
INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE WALK
Sunday 13th September
Around Grosmont and Esk Valley
Meet outside St. Matthew’s Parish Church
At 1pm for a short walk
Over Lease Rigg
Return approx. 5pm
Details will include Hagg’s mine and Esk Valley mine, description of mining methods and tour of loco sheds.
Exhibition inside the Church.
Walk led by Simon Chapman
Author of Grosmont and it’s mines.
Refreshments included
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